Pulling up stakes at Loaves & Fishes

Published: Thursday, November 21, 2013 at 02:46 PM.

As for our debt, the organization owes only for its building, which is not a big surprise. All bills and debts have always been paid in a timely fashion with the help of our Lord.

Now, we have completed our ministry that God called us for and are passing on the peace of Christ. We have always been built on faith and when the Lord has other plans, He will always prevail.

We have planted seeds in many places. One of those is Saxapahaw, where they have a great food pantry run by a very dedicated and caring person, Jim Cheek, and many great volunteers. They are thriving because of a small seed that we worked together, with the Lord’s help, to grow.

We know that there are many food pantries. We also know that we love all our clients and are in hopes that their needs will be met. Let us also pray for all those that worked at Loaves & Fishes that have been proud to be a part of a wonderful family. Those that worked until those last days are hurting and suffering and looking for the Lord to show them the new path to take. We still meet together to try and figure out what we can do to help others and mend our broken hearts and soothe our hurt.

Thank the Lord for all the people that love us and understand that life brings changes and that those changes give life to new ministries.

Thank you God for all the wonderful people I have met over the last 15 years in Alamance County. I only hope that I made a difference in someone’s life.

Brenda Allen of Mebane is the former executive director of Loaves & Fishes Christian Food Ministry, which closed in September.

First and foremost, thank you to all the wonderful folks who made Loaves & Fishes a great success — the donors, volunteers, the schools and businesses, the awesome staff and the great board of directors and anyone else that I may have failed to mention.

For many years our organization fed the hungry and did a great job. When funding was available, we paid utility bills, kept people warm in the winter, provided baby cribs for babies with no beds, provided shelter, and helped to feed the animals with the help of many pet lovers, especially one special angel that set up at Tractor Supply Co. in Burlington to collect pet food.

We provided a wonderful place for young people to come and learn how to begin to share with others. We provided a leg for a man without, but most of all, we provided a family for most of the clients to depend on for love.

It was also a close-knit family of volunteers and staff. They all worked day in and day out to make sure the community had all that we could possibly give.

There comes a time when it is alright to turn the scepter over to others to grow in their ministries and spirit. The Board of Loaves & Fishes Christian Food Ministry had to make tough decisions, and they still are working very hard to the dissolution plan of Loaves & Fishes.

The clients have been turned over to loving hands of Dream Align Ministries who operate very much like Loaves & Fishes did, with the love of God. Other ministries and agencies have stepped up to the plate and have benefitted by additional staff, paved parking lots, additional buildings and donations.

As for our debt, the organization owes only for its building, which is not a big surprise. All bills and debts have always been paid in a timely fashion with the help of our Lord.

Now, we have completed our ministry that God called us for and are passing on the peace of Christ. We have always been built on faith and when the Lord has other plans, He will always prevail.

We have planted seeds in many places. One of those is Saxapahaw, where they have a great food pantry run by a very dedicated and caring person, Jim Cheek, and many great volunteers. They are thriving because of a small seed that we worked together, with the Lord’s help, to grow.

We know that there are many food pantries. We also know that we love all our clients and are in hopes that their needs will be met. Let us also pray for all those that worked at Loaves & Fishes that have been proud to be a part of a wonderful family. Those that worked until those last days are hurting and suffering and looking for the Lord to show them the new path to take. We still meet together to try and figure out what we can do to help others and mend our broken hearts and soothe our hurt.

Thank the Lord for all the people that love us and understand that life brings changes and that those changes give life to new ministries.

Thank you God for all the wonderful people I have met over the last 15 years in Alamance County. I only hope that I made a difference in someone’s life.

Brenda Allen of Mebane is the former executive director of Loaves & Fishes Christian Food Ministry, which closed in September.